2026 Winter Gongju Chestnut Festival: A Celebration of Flavor and Fun

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Festival Opening and Atmosphere

Entrance view of the 2026 Winter Gongju Chestnut Festival at Geumgang Singwan Park.

This winter, the most anticipated festival, the 2026 Winter Gongju Chestnut Festival, has opened its grand gates.

The festival, which attracted 210,000 visitors last year, is filled with various sights, tastes, and experiences.

From the large roasting stations where you can roast chestnuts yourself to the winter wonderland filled with snow for kids to play, and the newly added Dog Kingdom, there’s something for everyone at the 2026 Winter Gongju Chestnut Festival.

Continuing through this weekend, be sure to check out the festival and the 2026 Korea Chestnut Industry Expo for a wonderful experience at the largest winter festival in the central region.

Crowded festival grounds at Geumgang Singwan Park during the Gongju Chestnut Festival.

On February 4, 2026, the festival venue at Geumgang Shin-gwan Park was bustling with excitement.

Now in its 9th year, this festival has solidified its reputation as the top winter festival in Korea, with an impressive turnout last year.

Let’s explore the diverse experiences and delicious food offerings through photos.

Large Roasting Experience

2026 Winter Gongju Chestnut Festival

Large Roasting Experience

The hallmark of the 2026 Winter Gongju Chestnut Festival is undoubtedly the "Large Roasting Experience." You can gather around a 3.1-meter high roasting station and enjoy roasting sweet Gongju chestnuts together.

Chestnuts can be purchased at the roasting zone, but please remember that sparks may fly, so it’s advisable not to wear new or expensive clothes.

The fun of peeling and eating the chestnuts you roasted yourself is delightful. Couples on dates looked particularly charming enjoying this experience.

Visitors roasting Gongju chestnuts together at the large outdoor roasting station.

Chestnut-Based Food Delights

2026 Winter Gongju Chestnut Festival

Chestnut Delicacies

No festival is complete without food, right? The 2026 Winter Gongju Chestnut Festival features a variety of delicious treats based on high-quality chestnuts.

From bakery items like hot dogs, chestnut bread, and muffins to drinks like chestnut tofu, Sikhye, makgeolli, and chestnut latte, there are plenty of chestnut-based dishes to enjoy.

My favorite treats, along with my child, are the chestnut hotteok and chestnut chicken nuggets. The sweet chestnuts in the hotteok are a real treat, and the chicken nuggets are so addictive that you’ll want to keep eating them. If you visit the festival, I highly recommend trying them!

There’s also a tent space for dining indoors during the cold winter, and a food court in front of the food zone expands your choices even further.

You can also enjoy grilled chestnut beef skewers and chestnut skewers, so gather your family and friends to enjoy a fun time together.

Winter Gongju Dog Kingdom

2026 Winter Gongju Chestnut Festival

Winter Gongju Dog Kingdom

The Winter Gongju Dog Kingdom offers programs like dog aromatherapy and homemade snack making, allowing you to enjoy experiences with your pets. (Entrance fee: 5,000 won)

Winter Gongju Snow Kingdom

2026 Winter Gongju Chestnut Festival

Winter Gongju Snow Kingdom

There are also experience programs for children, such as snow playgrounds and merry-go-rounds. Although real snow is hard to find these days, artificial snow creates a festive winter atmosphere in the Snow Kingdom corner.

You can enjoy various sledding options, including butt sleds, tube sleds, and merry-go-rounds. The tube sledding is free, while the butt sledding incurs a fee of 1,000 won. Parents visiting with children should remember to bring gloves for the tube sledding.

Play with Chestnuts

2026 Winter Gongju Chestnut Festival

Play with Chestnuts!

Next to the Winter Gongju Snow Kingdom, there’s a corner called "Play with Chestnuts!" This space, located inside a tent, offers workshops for crafting, various handcrafts, and keychain making using chestnuts.

2026 Korea Chestnut Industry Expo

The 2026 Winter Gongju Chestnut Festival is currently being held alongside the 2026 Korea Chestnut Industry Expo.

Visitors to the chestnut festival might overlook the expo, but it is filled with sights, tastes, and experiences.

The first thing that catches your eye is the chestnut industry promotion hall, which showcases various industries and products related to chestnuts, along with experience and healing zones.

You can learn about the characteristics of chestnuts from different countries, and there’s a special experience zone for chestnut skin treatments, offering affordable massages and skincare. Additionally, there are various experiences available, such as chestnut snack vending, chestnut nail art, and drone experiences.

For those visiting the Winter Gongju Chestnut Festival, be sure to stop by the Chestnut Industry Expo as well.

You can purchase high-quality Gongju chestnuts on-site and even send them via courier, making it a great opportunity to enjoy the festival and buy some chestnuts!